Second year

[Aroc]

Is there a guide for second year beeks?  There are countless videos and articles on beginning beekeeping, pest control and queen rearing but nothing really out there on what to do, expect or look for as your hive comes out of winter.

[splitrock]

Have you read forum member Michael Busch's book, The Practical Beekeeper

or another authors beekeeping for dummies yet?

[rwlaw]

You got your feet wet, now it's time to start looking at the deep end of the pool. :)
IMO, come spring, what's your plan for swarm control, do you have enough woodenware for expansion? Which goes hand in hand with the honey harvest.
Then comes mite control, do you have a good solid plan for monitoring and treating.
As I'm not a book person and the stuff that I've read is so out dated it's pretty much useless. The only one I can recommend is my former mentor's (and sometimes still is, LOL) book.
Well worth the money. 
http://www.mdasplitter.com

[GSF]

Here's Michael's website;  www.bushfarms.com

[Rurification]

And remember, what the bees did your first year is in no way a predictor of what will happen the next year.   Or ever again.    I felt more like a beginner in year 3 than I did my first year.

My best advice is to read every post on this forum every day [except the coffee house ones, of course].   You'll begin to see what wild and crazy stuff comes up, what your different options are and how you'll get totally different advice from equally expert sources.     

Also, Michael's site is fabulous.   Also, Scientific Beekeeping's site is fabulous.

[Nugget Shooter]

I second that question and for me so far so good and now AZ has had rain in perfect timing and quantities that we will have a massive bloom this year starting in about 3 weeks. I hope I am prepared, but still a bit foggy on swarm control and what to look for. Seems there is a good lesson ahead for me and my 6 hives and I am eagerly devouring all info I can to roll smoothly into my first major flow.....

[Acebird]

Boy Rurification hit the nail on the head.  Maybe the worse thing that could happen is to have success the first year.  Gives you a faults impression you got it knocked.  Keep reading the forums and try to figure out what others are doing wrong before you do it.

[GSF]

I usually guestimate swarm season by seeing drone brood in the hives. Drones take long and have to mature first before the new/old queens can swarm. Down south about this time of year we should take concern with starve outs. My bees have been flying pretty good the last few days. Exercise=calories burned=stores consumed.